Here’s a quick tip about sealing your air handler and why it matters. As a home inspector in Orlando, I see a lot of air handlers installed in garages and attics. You might wonder, “Why would builders do that?” It’s a good question. These are actually the worst spots for an air handler because they’re unconditioned spaces and outside the main air envelope.
What happens if its outside of the air envelope?
Placing the air handler outside the conditioned space increases the risk of air leaks, which can depressurize the home’s interior. As a result, the home draws in makeup air from undesirable sources such as wall sockets, recessed lights, fan junction boxes, and windows. This incoming air often originates from the attic, wall cavities, or humid outdoor environments.
How can this affect my indoor air quality?
Air that enters through gaps in your ceiling or walls can carry in unwanted substances. Many attics and walls contain fiberglass, which can become airborne. There is also a chance your attic has mold or animal urine, each bringing its own problems. If your air handler is in the garage, it might pull in fumes from gas, paint, oil, pesticides, or other stored chemicals. All of these can affect a person’s health, depending on the individual and how much exposure there is.
What can I do to help fix this?
Fixing these issues is really pretty simple. Something that can easily be done is air handler sealing which takes no time. When these units come from the factory they have covers and holes where the refrigerant & condensate lines go. You can seal any seams up with foil tape. You don’t want to use duct tape as it will just degrade. For the larger gaps I recommend filling them with a duct seal compound. This will help you fill the larger spaces that aren’t easily sealed with the tape. A great tool for finding leaks is a smoke pen.
By ensuring that your hvac system is properly sealed up you can not only save money on your utility bills each month but you can improve your homes indoor air quality. If you would like to schedule your next home inspection with us feel free to contact us here.